Hyderabad: Except for funds for the Young India Integrated Residential Schools and Telangana Public Schools, the school education sector saw no major allocations in the state budget on Friday.Teachers expressed disappointment at the govt not allocating enough budgetary support to improve basic infrastructure in existing schools.“Although 3,566 crore more was allocated as compared to last year, the increased amount may only suffice for the expansion of the breakfast and lunch scheme up to the intermediate level and the establishment of Telangana Public Schools. There is no mention of additional funds for improving basic facilities in all schools or enhancing the quality of midday meals,” said Chava Ravi, president, Telangana United Teachers Federation.Teachers also questioned the need to waste crores of rupees on establishing new schools in the name of Telangana Public Schools and Young India Schools instead of strengthening the existing ones.“Instead of spending 200 crore on one Young India school and coming up with about 100 of them, if even 20% of the said amount is given to existing schools, all the schools in the state can be revamped. Again, talking about centralisation of education by creating these schools in each mandal looks like a plan to rationalise existing schools gradually,” said M Ravinder, a govt teacher, adding that the overall budget for education is discouraging and not adequate to support the sector.Disgruntled teachers also pointed out that, for the third consecutive budget, the Congress govt failed to allocate 15% to education as promised in its election manifesto. They also sought clarity from the govt on the Pay Revision Commission (PRC), pending bills, and arrears.
